Purple heron migration, record numbers

This video from Asia is called Beautiful Purple Heron, Pheasant tailed Jacana, Black-headed Ibis, Pond Heron & Great Egret. Towards the end of the video, there is also an intermediate egret.

Before purple herons arrive for winter in southern Asia or Africa, they migrate from their more northern nesting areas.

On Monday 8 September, 427 purple herons flew south over the Dordtse Biesbosch bird counting point. A record number for one day in the Netherlands.

The total number for the whole Netherlands this autumn migration season so far is 1837. Nearly all those came from nests in the Netherlands, as they don’t breed further to the north. Sometimes, grey herons fly along with the migrating purple herons.

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